"A Christmas Example Of Faith" by Nancy Dufresne

The events and story of Jesus’ birth are the reason for this Christmas season. But when I look at the account of these events recorded in the book of Luke, I see something very important that took place, even before Jesus was born.

     Luke 1:26-38 says, “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

     The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary and told her that she was highly favored of God, and that she would have a Son whose name would be called Jesus.

     Gabriel’s assignment wasn’t just to make this glorious announcement to Mary, but he also came to get Mary’s response to this announcement. He came to get her agreement to God’s plan. Mary gave her response to this announcement, “…be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38). He didn’t depart from her until he had her agreement.

     Her agreement was given by speaking words. Her faith was released through the words she spoke.

     God’s plan for our life needs our agreement. His plan for us doesn’t just come to pass automatically – we must agree to it – we must add our faith to it. Our faith is our agreement. Our agreement is given by the words we speak; our faith is released through the words we speak.

     If God didn’t need Mary’s agreement to bring His Son into the earth, why would He have sent Gabriel to announce God’s plan to her? If He didn’t need her agreement, He would have just brought it to pass automatically – but He didn’t!

     Getting Jesus into the earth needed Mary’s agreement. For redemption’s plan to come to pass through her, God needed her agreement.

     God’s plan for our life needs our agreement. God has a plan for each and every one of us, but it won’t just come pass automatically. God’s plan for us calls for our agreement – our faith!

     During this Christmas season, let’s follow Mary’s example of faith. She had faith to agree with God’s plan. Let’s continue to speak our agreement with God’s plan for our life by faith.

     Mary and Joseph both walked out that season of Jesus’ conception and birth by faith. Man’s faith played a part in Jesus’ entrance into the earth so that the plan of redemption could come to pass.

     If the greatest event in the earth called for man’s faith, every God-event in your life calls for your faith – your agreement.

     May this Christmas season be a season when your faith in God’s plan continues to flourish and be released through the words you speak – agreeing with God’s plan for your life and for your family.

     Mary gave us an example of faith to follow, “…be it unto me according to thy word.”